2012 Audi TTS Specifications

Audi's adorable little TT has a bit of an identity crisis. It's so cute that you sort of expect it to be a Hyundai Tiburon for chic, gorgeous women with impeccable taste and generous budgets. Nothing against those kinds of customers -- in fact, any such woman gains ten points for driving a hot Audi like that -- but the TT has never really been taken seriously by the testosterone-laden enthusiast crowd.

Making matters worse was a product lineup that was a little too densely populated for such a low-volume car. Choices are a good thing, but when so many different TTs are on the lot - front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive; turbocharged four-cylinder, VR6; dual-clutch automatic, stick shift; coupe, convertible - it tends to overwhelm customers and work against forming a clear image of what a car is about.

A while back, Audi started cleaning up the TT lineup, dropping the narrow-angle V-6 and leaving the base 200-hp turbo four that we know and love. And then the TTS dropped, with a 265-hp version of the 2.0T and -- what's this? -- a dual-clutch automatic only? Suddenly, having too many choices didn't seem like such a bad thing.

Mercedes-Benz is in the process of updating the AMG side of the family

Mercedes-Benz is in the process of updating the AMG side of the family, including the replacement of its 6.2-liter engines with the more efficient 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V8. One of the models set to receive the new mill is the 2012 M-Class, and photogs posted outside the Nürburgring have caught the revised SUV getting ready to push its prodigious weight around the circuit.
The current generation ML63 AMG churns out 503 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, but with the twin-turbo 5.5-liter mill bolted in, the reworked high-po ML could see at least 544 hp and close to 600 lb-ft of twist. In addition to the upgraded engine, the camo-clad mule also benefits from a more aggressive lower-front fascia, a new character line running across the side and an assortment of other revised body mods, all of which should make their way to the new model when it goes on sale early next year.

Range Rover ever made prices from £30,000

Finally – our first good look at the smallest, lightest and greenest Range Rover ever made! With order books opening in three months and prices from £30,000, has had exclusive access to the Evoque, and spoken to design boss Gerry McGovern about the most striking car the company has ever produced.

The Evoque retains the bulging arches, sweeping headlights and sleek profile of the LRX concept shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2008. The bluff front end and wide stance give the car the same presence as its bigger relatives, but it’s 150mm shorter and 100mm lower than the Freelander on which it’s based.

But despite being shorter than its Land Rover sibling, the newcomer is no entry-level model. The interior is packed with technology, including the ‘dual-view’ screen on the dash, which allows the passenger to watch a DVD while the driver uses sat-nav on the same screen. A 17-speaker Meridian audio system is also an option.

What’s more, the small exterior hides a surprisingly spacious interior, with plenty of room for two adults in the plush leather rear seats. Thanks to clever design, the coupé-like roof offers more headroom than you might expect in the beautifully finished cabin.

As well as being a style statement, the Evoque shows how Range Rover has cleaned up its act. It will be the first Range Rover to be offered with two-wheel drive, further broadening its appeal. The option of front-wheel drive also means that – equipped with the new 2.2-litre eD4 diesel engine and stop-start – the Evoque will return close to 60mpg and CO2 figures below 130g/km.

Two other four-cylinder engines will complete the line-up – a more powerful 187bhp diesel, and a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit with 240bhp. But both will only be available with four-wheel drive.

Thanks to the use of materials such as aluminium and magnesium, the Evoque weighs over 100kg less, which should translate to agility previously unseen on the marque’s high-riding 4x4s.

There will be three different trims; Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. Each will look slightly different, with the sportier models getting body-coloured sills and skirts, and bespoke exhausts for a more muscular look.

The expected £30,000 entry price is for a front-wheel-drive Pure, while a fully loaded Dynamic rises to more than £40,000. Order books open in January, with deliveries starting at the end of May, while the five-door version will be unveiled in November.

For more on the Evoque, and the full interview with design boss Gerry McGovern, make sure you pick up a copy of the latest issue of Auto Express, on sale now at all good newsagents.

Suzuki FANtastic Sounds

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7-21-2010 07:50

official pan-European sponsor of the 2010 MTV EMAs – is offering young music artists the chance to kick-start their careers with Suzuki FANtastic Sounds, a new online competition. To tie in with the launch of its new Swift, the Japanese manufacturer is looking for a special sound tailored to the car.

The Suzuki FANtastic Sounds campaign is calling on the music loving target audience and offers artists a chance to present their musical creation not only to a pan-European online audience, but also to a professional jury including MTV International's Talent & Music team.

The music style needs to reflect Suzuki's "Way of Life!", a unique blend of the brand values "excitement", "straightforward", "value", "sporty" and "spirit". The only pre-requisites are that entrants must be above 18 and not have a record contract.

From the 15th to the 29th of July DJs, bands, solo artists or composers will find more info at www.fantastic-sounds.com.

A jury made up of music professionals – among them "Die Happy" singer Marta Jandova – will rate all entries and decide the winner based on originality and overall musicality. First prize is a trip to the 2010 MTV EMAs in Madrid on the 7th of November, including VIP ticket and after show party – but most of all the chance to start an international career, powered by Suzuki and MTV, two leaders in their fields. Suzuki FANtastic Sounds will be supported by a pan-European on-air campaign on MTV between the 15th and 29th of July. The winner will be announced in early August.

Production of the brand new Swift, world strategic model and latest member of Suzuki's internationally successful line of small cars, has just started and it goes on sale this autumn.

Road construction threatened

We don't know how much road construction your area is being subjected to, but we're up to our necks in orange barrels and portable cement barriers. Apparently the government stimulus funds have converged onto our highways and boulevards in one summer, but a report by The New York Times shows that one key element could throw a wrench in the plans to overhaul our nation's infrastructure. It's not concrete or even heavy machinery. We're talking about the paint used to stripe the roads.

Yellow lines, white lines and dashes of both colors could be tough to come by due to a sudden shortage of a chemical compound called methyl methacrylate. The Associated General Contractors of America reportedly told federal transportation officials last week that the sudden scarcity of the paint has "very significant ramifications for completion of highway projects this summer."

Dow Construction Chemical is reportedly running into production problems this year and other chemical companies have cut back on making the striping paint due to the slow economy. Some states, including Texas, Washington and Ohio may be perilously running out of the paint just as the construction season starts to heat up, which could make already annoying traffic delays last even longer.

Among the short-term solutions being noodled are using more of the raised reflective buttons in place of the stripes and only painting the center lines and not the shoulder lines. Either way, this won't make construction season any easier.

2010 Mazda6

2010 Mazda6 – Click above for high-res image gallery

As Americans, we typically view Canadians as our friendly neighbors to the north. So friendly are they, in fact, that it seems unimaginable that one would do anything as vile as, say, sell a woman with reduced mental capacity a used Mazda at a 60-percent markup over new. Unfortunately, that's exactly what Madeline Leonard claims happened to her when she visited an Orangeville, Ontario dealership.

Leonard brought her 2004 Mazda in to have its tires replaced, and somehow wound up being talked into purchasing a 2010 Mazda6 demo with around 3,700 miles on the odometer. To make matters worse, the car's final price tag totaled around
$66,000 CAD with taxes and numerous upsells. Among other things, the salesman convinced Leonard that she needed extras like stain guard, rust protection and window etching. While the Mazda6 carries an MSRP of $39,969 CAD, the Orangeville dealership had priced the car at $45,846 CAD.

Despite being unemployed and living on a fixed income that nets her under $2,000 CAD per month, the dealership financed Leonard with an eight-year loan that will end up costing her an additional $16,000 CAD. The Orangeville dealer currently has a D+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and faces changes from the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council of engaging in unfair practice by making an unconscionable representation. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Mazda6

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Consumers Want Green Vehicles to Offer More Than Fuel Savings

NEW YORK--While interest in alternative vehicles may be growing, consumers do not see ‘green’ as the only purchasing factor and are demanding more from automakers, according to an Accenture study released today.

“Both OEMs and suppliers need to start building strategic partnerships that will lead to distinctive capabilities, particularly around safety, environmental protection and entertainment.”

Accenture’s survey showed that six out of 10 consumers are more likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only when it is superior to gasoline-only models in every way, so while automakers are increasingly focused on addressing the demand for greater fuel efficiency and economy they should also address those areas that continue to influence the consumer. ‘Green’ is not enough by itself.

In-vehicle services which satisfy different customer needs including commerce, entertainment, safety, maintenance, communication and infomobility (i.e., navigation) will not only be key influences on consumer choice but will also play a key factor in the development of more fuel efficient vehicles.

“Our study suggests that while consumers are increasingly embracing and understanding the value of alternative vehicles they still want models that represent a new phase in the evolution of the automobile. In-vehicle services will play a key part in this and car manufacturers have an opportunity now to ramp up their capabilities in this area to achieve competitive differentiation.” said Luca Mentuccia, managing director of Accenture’s Automotive group. “Both OEMs and suppliers need to start building strategic partnerships that will lead to distinctive capabilities, particularly around safety, environmental protection and entertainment.”

The Accenture study surveyed more than 1,800 consumers and indicates that interests in attributes other than fuel efficiency is increasing, as just 36 percent of respondents cited higher gas prices as a reason to buy a green car. Moreover, those that have driven a hybrid or electric vehicle rate fuel efficiency as being very good to excellent, but most rate the ride, performance, style and maintenance as good at best.

Forty-two percent of the respondents said they are likely to buy a hybrid or electric auto in the next two years. (This rose to a high of 62 percent in Italy). Most of these (80 percent) are more likely to buy hybrids than all-electric vehicles.

Accenture has also a new point of view on in-vehicle services (defined as In-Vehicle Infotainment or IVI) which is a view of the European marketplace and is available by clicking here: Accenture In-Vehicle Infotainment.

Methodology

The study was based upon market research and an online survey conducted by Accenture of 1,850 consumers in five countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the United States and Canada in February 2010. The respondents ranged in age from 18 to 61 years and over, and were a near even split between male (52 percent) and female (48 percent) consumers.

Editor’s Note

A fact sheet that demonstrates each country’s percentage of respondents based on survey questions follows this news release.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 176,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$21.58 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2009. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

Accenture Global Auto Consumer Survey – Fact Sheet
March 2010

Overview – Accenture’s survey showed that six out of 10 consumers are more likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only when it is superior to gasoline-only models in every way, so while automakers are increasingly focused on addressing the demand for greater fuel efficiency and economy they should also address those areas that continue to influence the consumer. ‘Green’ is not enough by itself.

Methodology - Accenture surveyed 1,850 consumers in five countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the United States and Canada, to gain insight into hybrid and electric vehicle buying preferences. The respondents ranged in age from 18 to 61 years and over. In terms of gender, there was a near-even split between male (52 percent) and female (48 percent) consumers. Key findings per country are:

Survey Question		Germany % of Respondents		France % of Respondents		Italy % of Respondents		U.S./Canada % of Respondents
More likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle that is better than a fuel-only car in every way		74%		55%		46%		65%
Rate the fuel efficiency of a hybrid or electric car very good to excellent, but rate ride, performance, style and maintenance as good		59%		64%		45%		74%
More likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle in the next two years		29%		51%		62%		31%
More likely to purchase a hybrid in the next two years		67%		63%		71%		70%
More likely to buy an electric car in the next two years		17%		22%		19%		5%
Everyone should own a hybrid or electric car		21%		39%		57%		26%
Would pay nothing more for a hybrid or electric car compared to a fuel-only vehicle		45%		52%		46%		56%
Desire a payback time for a hybrid or electric car purchase to be five years or less		64%		83%		73%		82%
Assuming a hybrid or electric vehicle could run on an electric charge for 200 miles, want the driving distance between re-charging points to be every 11 to 50 miles		55%		44%		52%		20%
Want re-charging to take less than 20 minutes		72%		73%		69%		50%